Enhanced SERS detection of the colorectal cancer biomarker utilizing a two-dimensional silver substrate.

To improve the sensitivity, accuracy and specificity of the assay, a two-dimensional silver substrate with EF=5.85×108 was first synthesized as a SERS substrate, on the surface of which DSP molecules were modified to form a DSP-antibody coupling through the activation of two N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) esters to capture TNF-α. Subsequently, aptamerized silver-coated gold nanospheres (Au@TFMBA@Ag) were synthesized as Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) recognition probes. These probes were employed to create a sandwich structure for the quantitative detection of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), utilizing the SERS signal intensity at 1374 cm-1. Quantitative detection of TNF-α was successfully accomplished within the concentration range of 10-4 to 10-10 mg·mL-1. Clinical serum samples were collected and subjected to testing. Significance analysis, conducted through the T-test (p < 0.0001), unequivocally showed the method's ability to differentiate between sera from normal individuals and those diagnosed with colon cancer.

Prognostic factors and predictive models for primary pulmonary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Primary pulmonary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PP-DLBCL) is a rare extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (EN-NHL). Its prognosis as an aggressive lymphoma is abysmal, and predictive models are still lacking. METHODS: We screened patients diagnosed with PP-DLBCL between 2010 and 2019 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Then, univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors affecting patient prognosis. Finally, a novel nomogram was constructed and the model was evaluated by looking at three dimensions. RESULTS: A total of 831 patients were included in this study. Most of the patients were elderly (526 (63.8%)) and female (428 (51.9%)). The included patients were randomized in a 7:3 ratio into a training group (577 (70%)) and a validation group (248 (30%)). We concluded that the independent risk factors of prognosis were age, extrapulmonary metastasis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical intervention. The results of receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis in the training and validation groups confirmed that the risk prediction nomogram could accurately predict the survival of PP-DLBCL. CONCLUSION: This study is the first large population-based clinical data study on PP-DLBCL. A novel predictive model about prognosis has been developed to help clinical decision-making.

Primary pulmonary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PP-DLBCL), a rare extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (EN-NHL), has a very poor prognosis as an aggressive lymphoma.We screened individuals from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database who were diagnosed with PP-DLBCL between 2010 and 2019. Then, univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors affecting patient prognosis.Finally, we built a new predictive model to aid in clinical decision making.

Personalized movie recommendation in IoT-enhanced systems using graph convolutional network and multi-layer perceptron.

Exploring the optimization of communication strategies for animation films in the context of cross-cultural communication, this research integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) and convolutional networks. The research constructs a collaborative filtering (CF) movie recommendation model based on a graph convolutional neural network (GCN) and investigates its application in cross-cultural communication. The fusion of IoT and convolutional networks in movie communication is also analyzed, and the effectiveness of the proposed GCN-CF model is validated through comparative experiments. The results indicate that, compared to other models, the GCN-CF model achieves the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) on the MovieLens 100 K and MovieLens 1 M datasets, with values of 0.8762 and 0.8275, respectively. Compared to traditional models, the GCN-CF model exhibits significantly superior performance in terms of RMSE, with reductions ranging from 0.6 to 5.2%, highlighting its heightened detection accuracy and overall performance. Moreover, the performance of the GCN-CF model is enhanced after introducing attention mechanisms and auxiliary information on both datasets, showing an improvement of 0.4% compared to the scenario without these additions. This data demonstrates the effectiveness of attention mechanisms and auxiliary information. Finally, the research presents an animation film communication strategy based on IoT and convolutional networks, offering novel insights for film production and communication, along with positive implications for cultural exchange and the advancement of the global media industry.

Sprayable Nanocomposites Hydrogel for Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration.

Wound management remains a critical challenge worldwide and imposes a huge financial burden on every nation. Hydrogels are promising for biomedical applications because of their extracellular matrix (ECM) like structure, good biocompatibility and multifunctional bioactivity. However, the poor mechanical properties and inconvenient operation of traditional hydrogels make it difficult to meet the complex and multifaceted needs of clinical practice. In recent years, the multifunctional nanocomposites hydrogel with especially sprayable feature have shown enhanced mechanical properties and facile operation, which enable their huge clinical applications value. A unique and powerful nanocomposite hydrogels (NCH) platform is developed by combining the many advantages of nanomaterials and hydrogels, which can achieve efficient trauma repair. This work reviews important advances on the preparation, functions and applications of sprayable NCH platforms. The challenges and future trends in the field with the aim of providing researchers with clarity on the past, present, and future of the emerging field of sprayable NCH are also proposed in detail.

The impact of cancer prevention education on the mental health of college students based on the difference-in-differences method.

Background and objective: Cancer, as the second leading cause of death worldwide, poses significant challenges to human health and socio-economic development. In recent years, the incidence of cancer has shown a trend toward younger populations, drawing attention to cancer prevention education among college students. However, research on the specific impact of cancer prevention education on the mental health of college students is limited. This study aims to explore the impact of cancer prevention education on the mental health of college students, revealing the mediating role of disease awareness and the moderating roles of psychological resilience and cultural differences. Methods: A difference-in-differences (DID) approach was used, involving 1,670 freshmen from a Chinese university, divided into an experimental group (n = 835) and a control group (n = 835). The experimental group received a semester-long cancer prevention education program. Data were collected monthly from November 2022 to June 2023 using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and a custom Disease Awareness Scale. Results: The study found a significant improvement in mental health scores among the experimental group, with an average increase of 14.738 points on the DASS-21 scale (p < 0.001), representing a 23% reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression levels compared to the control group. Disease awareness in the experimental group improved by 17%, as measured by the Disease Awareness Scale, with a mediation effect of 3.563 points (p < 0.001). Furthermore, psychological resilience and cultural differences moderated the impact of the education program, with those scoring higher in resilience showing an additional 8% improvement in mental health scores (moderation effect = 0.892, p < 0.001), and cultural differences accounting for a 5% variance (moderation effect = 0.756, p < 0.001) in the outcomes. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that systematic and scientific cancer prevention education has a significant positive impact on the mental health of college students. Universities should promote comprehensive and personalized health education strategies to improve disease awareness, foster psychological resilience, and emphasize cultural differences, thereby enhancing the overall physical and mental health of college students and promoting their holistic development. This finding provides important empirical support and theoretical basis for the design and implementation of health education in universities.

GALNT14-mediated O-glycosylation drives lung adenocarcinoma progression by reducing endogenous reactive oxygen species generation.

Aberrant glycosylation, resulting from dysregulated expression of glycosyltransferases, is a prevalent feature of cancer cells. N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-14 (GALNT14) serves as a pivotal enzyme responsible for initiating O-GalNAcylation. It remains unclear whether and how GALNT14 affects lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Here, GALNT14 expression in LUAD was analyzed by searching public databases and verified by examining clinical samples. Bioinformatics, LC-MS/MS, RNA-seq, and RIP-seq analyses were used to uncover the mechanism underlying GALNT14. We observed that GALNT14 was frequently overexpressed in LUAD tissues. High GALNT14 expression was positively associated with advanced TNM stage, larger tumor size, and unfavorable prognosis. Functionally, GALNT14 facilitated LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and accelerated tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, GALNT14 reduced the accumulation of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) to exert its oncogenic function via O-glycosylating hnRNPUL1 to upregulate AKR1C2 expression. Meanwhile, GALNT14 expression was directly modulated by miR-125a.These findings indicated that GALNT14-mediated O-GalNAcylation could drive LUAD progression via eliminating ROS and might be a valuable therapeutic target.

Reliability studies of vanadium redox flow batteries: upper limit voltage effect.

All-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) show promise as a long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology in grid applications. However, the continual performance fading over time poses a significant obstacle for VRFBs. This study systematically investigates the impact of increased upper limit voltage (1.6 V, 1.7 V, and 1.8 V) in the reliability and degradation of a scaled VRFB cell (49 cm2) over long-term testing (500+ cycles). The findings indicate that higher upper voltages significantly decrease capacity and voltage efficiencies. Although electrolyte remixing can restore the majority of the capacity, it only partially recovers voltage efficiency at 1.7 V and 1.8 V, suggesting substantial cell degradation. Analysis reveals that the overpotential increase induced degradation is mainly contributed by the anode during charging and the cathode during discharging. Increased upper voltage amplifies degradation, with the anode being more affected. As confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization curves, elevated voltages lead to significant resistance increases, driven by charge transfer resistance (mostly from the anode). Moreover, the morphological, surficial, and electrochemical characterization results of cycled electrodes suggest that the degree and mode of degradation were contingent upon the cutoff voltage. For instance, the cathode experienced severe surface degradation at the maximal upper voltage of 1.8 V. This work highlights the importance of optimizing voltage limits to improve the lifetime of VRFBs and offers valuable insights into the development of predictive models through using accelerated stressor lifetime testing (ASLT) protocols for VRFBs.

Effect of roasted purple laver (nori) on vitamin B12 nutritional status of vegetarians: a dose-response trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the bioavailability of vitamin B12 from nori and to evaluate the required dosage for improving vitamin B12 nutritional status in vegetarians not using supplements. METHODS: The study design is an open-label, parallel, dose-response randomized controlled trial. Thirty vegetarians were assigned to control (no nori), low-dose (5 g nori, aiming to provide 2.4 µg vitamin B12 per day), or high-dose (8 g nori, aiming to provide 4 µg vitamin B12 per day) groups. The primary outcome was changes in vitamin B12 status as measured by serum vitamin B12, holotranscobalamin (holoTC), homocysteine (Hcy), and methylmalonic acid (MMA), and a combined score of these four markers (4cB12 score) during the four-week intervention. Dietary vitamin B12 intakes were assessed at baseline and end of the trial with a 17-item food frequency questionnaire designed for vitamin B12 assessment. General linear model was used to compare least square means of changes in each biomarker of vitamin B12 status, among the three groups, while adjusting for respective baseline biomarker. RESULTS: After adjusting for baseline status, nori consumption led to significant improvement in serum vitamin B12 (among-group P-value = 0.0029), holoTC (P = 0.0127), Hcy (P = 0.0225), and 4cB12 (P = 0.0094). Changes in MMA did not differ significantly across groups, but showed within-group pre-post improvement in the low-dose group (median [p25, p75] = -339 [-461, -198] nmol/L). Vitamin B12 status appeared to plateau at low dose (5 g of nori), which compared with control group, improved serum vitamin B12 (lease square mean [95% CI] = + 59 [25, 93] pmol/L, P = 0.0014); holoTC (+ 28.2 [10.1, 46.3] pmol/L, P = 0.0035); Hcy (-3.7 [-6.8, -0.6] µmol/L, p = 0.0226); and 4cB12 score (+ 0.67 [0.24, 1.09], p = 0.0036). High-dose resulted in similar improvements. There was no significant difference between low-dose and high-dose groups in all biomarkers of vitamin B12. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming 5 g of nori per day for 4 weeks significantly improved vitamin B12 status in vegetarians. A higher dose (8 g) may not confer additional benefits. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05614960. Date of registration: November 14th 2022.

Early Effects of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model on Kidney Transplant Waitlist Additions.

BACKGROUND: Despite the mortality benefit of kidney transplantation over dialysis, only 13% of patients with end-stage kidney disease are on the transplant waitlist. Given the low rates of transplant waitlisting in the US, Medicare launched the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model in 2021, the largest mandatory trial of payment incentives in kidney disease, which randomized 30% of healthcare markets to financial bonuses/penalties to improve kidney transplantation and home dialysis use. This study examines the effect of ETC payment adjustments on US kidney transplant waitlist additions. METHODS: Using data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network registry, we examined kidney transplant waitlisting trends between 01/01/2017 and 06/30/2022. Participants were divided into intervention and control arms of the ETC Model. Using an interrupted time series design, we compared slope changes in waitlist additions post-ETC Model implementation (implementation date: 01/01/2021) between the two arms, while accounting for differential changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results were stratified by race and ethnicity (White, Black, Hispanic, and other). To examine balance between the two ETC arms, we conducted supplementary analyses using United States Renal Data System and Medicare data. RESULTS: Following implementation of the ETC Model, there were 5,550 waitlist additions in the intervention and 11,332 additions in the control arm (versus 14,023 and 30,610 additions before the ETC Model). Post-ETC, there were no significant differences in kidney transplant waitlist additions between the two arms for the overall cohort (slope difference 6.9 new listings/month, 95% CI: -7.4 to 21.1) or among either White (slope difference 2.6/month, 95% CI -3.0 to 8.1), Black (slope difference 2.2/month, 95% CI: -4.3 to 8.7), or Hispanic (slope difference 0.2/month, 95% CI: -4.5 to 4.9) patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the 18 months following implementation, the ETC Model was not associated with significant changes in new kidney transplant waitlist additions.

Comprehensive characterization of gibberellin oxidase gene family in Brassica napus reveals BnGA2ox15 involved in hormone signaling and response to drought stress.

Brassica napus is a well-known allopolyploid oil crop with high commercial potential. Gibberellin oxidase (GAox) is an essential enzyme that activates gibberellins, which regulate plant growth, and development, and have a significant impact on plant responses to abiotic stress. However, the comprehensive understanding of GAox genes and their evolution in Brassica plants remains elusive. Using advanced bioinformatics tools, this study identified 125 candidate GAox genes from the whole genomes of three key Brassica species. This study also investigated sequence characteristics, conserved motifs, exon/intron structures, cis-acting elements, syntenic analysis, duplication events and expression patterns. Subcellular localization analysis showed that the BnGA2ox14 and BnGA2ox15 proteins are located in the nucleus, whereas BnGA2ox26 is specifically localized to the chloroplast. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that MYELOCYTOMATOSIS 4 (BnMYC4) and ABA-INDUCIBLE BHLH-TYPE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (BnAIB) bind to the BnGA2ox15 promoter and activate its transcription. Molecular docking analysis further elucidated their interaction structures and identified potential binding sites. Roots transformations show that overexpression of BnGA2ox15 increased sensitivity to PEG-6000 treatment in rapeseed. In brief, this study reveals that BnGA2ox15 is a downstream target in JA and ABA signaling pathways, functioning as a negative regulator in response to drought stress.

A constitutive model based on energy density for power-law variable thickness plates and its application.

Variable thickness plates are relatively common structure in large-scale transportation equipment such as aerospace and ships. Due to their high running speed and large structural dimensions, such structures are usually induced high-frequency severe vibrations, which likely lead to structural damage. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately predict the high-frequency dynamic response characteristics during the structural design phase. The energy finite element method (EFEM) is a powerful tool for predicting high-frequency dynamic response. But, in recent EFEM for variable thickness plates, an approximate method (AEFEM) using a large number of constant thickness plate elements to approximate variable thickness plates is used. Due to that AEFEM is based on the constitutive equation for constant thickness plate, it will be imprecise and time-consuming. Aiming at power-law variable thickness plates, the constitutive equation based on energy density is derived and the finite element discrete scheme of the constitutive equation was studied. In this way, the precise new EFEM (NEFEM) for variable thickness plates was established. In addition, the dynamic response of a variable thickness plate was predicted by NEFEM presented and finite element method (FEM) respectively. The results are consistent. It is shown that the constitutive model presented is reliable and time-saving. Comparison of the results from AEFEM, the NEFEM can get more accurate results with fewer elements. The NEFEM based on the constitutive model presented can be used to predict precisely the high-frequency dynamic response for power-law variable thickness plates.

CircPWWP2A promotes renal interstitial fibrosis through modulating miR-182/ROCK1 axis.

Renal fibrosis is a long-term and progressively worsening condition that impacts kidney function during aging and in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD and renal fibrosis affect approximately 10% of the global population and are prevalent in about half of individuals over the age of 70. Despite ongoing research, the mechanisms underlying renal fibrosis are still not well understood, and there is currently a lack of effective treatments available. In the present study, we demonstrated a significant increase of circPWWP2A in renal tubular cells both in vivo and in vitro models of renal fibrosis. Suppressing circPWWP2A has the potential to reduce mitochondrial dysfunction and the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), ultimately leading to the inhibition of renal fibrosis. Whereas, supplementation of circPWWP2A led to more serve mitochondrial dysfunction, mtROS production and renal fibrosis. Mechanistically, we found the expression of circPWWP2A was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-182. And we further confirmed miR-182 was the direct target of circPWWP2A by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. Then, we found miR-182 suppressed the expression of ROCK1 in both in vitro and in vivo models of renal fibrosis. Luciferase microRNA target reporter assay further indicated ROCK1 as a direct target of miR-182. Knockdown of ROCK1 inhibits renal fibrosis and mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting ROCK1 not only served as an injurious role in mitochondrial homeostasis but also a pro-fibrotic factor in CKD. Taking together, our findings suggest that circPWWP2A may promote renal interstitial fibrosis by modulating miR-182/ROCK1-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction.

Effects of Hurricane Irma on mosquito abundance and species composition in a metropolitan Gulf coastal city, 2016-2018.

Mosquitoes are the most common disease vectors worldwide. In coastal cities, the spread, activity, and longevity of vector mosquitoes are influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall, which affect their geographic distribution, biting rates, and lifespan. We examined mosquito abundance and species composition before and after Hurricane Irma in Miami, Dade County, Florida, and identified which mosquito species predominated post-Hurricane Irma. Our results showed that mosquito populations increased post-Hurricane Irma: 7.3 and 8.0 times more mosquitoes were captured in 2017 than at baseline, 2016 and 2018 respectively. Warmer temperatures accelerated larval development, resulting in faster emergence of adult mosquitoes. In BG-Sentinel traps, primary species like Ae. tortills, Cx. nigripalpus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus dominated the post-Hurricane Irma period. Secondary vectors that dominated post-Hurricane Irma include An. atropos, An. crucians, An. quadrimaculatus, Cx. erraticus, and Ps. columbiae. After Hurricane Irma, the surge in mosquito populations in Miami, Florida heightened disease risk. To mitigate and prevent future risks, we must enhance surveillance, raise public awareness, and implement targeted vector control measures.

Enhancing Conductivity in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells with Silver Nanowire-Assisted Ti3C2Tx MXene Electrodes for Cost-Effective and Scalable Photovoltaics.

Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells have set world-record efficiencies among single-junction silicon solar cells, accelerating their commercial deployment. Despite these clear efficiency advantages, the high costs associated with low-temperature silver pastes (LTSP) for metallization have driven the search for more economical alternatives in mass production. 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes) have attracted significant attention due to their tunable optoelectronic properties and metal-like conductivity, the highest among all solution-processed 2D materials. MXenes have emerged as a cost-effective alternative for rear-side electrodes in SHJ solar cells. However, the use of MXene electrodes has so far been limited to lab-scale SHJ solar cells. The efficiency of these devices has been constrained by a fill factor (FF) of under 73%, primarily due to suboptimal charge transport at the contact layer/MXene interface. Herein, a silver nanowire (AgNW)-assisted Ti3C2Tx MXene electrode contact is introduced and explores the potential of this hybrid electrode in industry-scale solar cells. By incorporating this hybrid electrode into SHJ solar cells, 9.0 cm2 cells are achieved with an efficiency of 24.04% (FF of 81.64%) and 252 cm2 cells with an efficiency of 22.17% (FF of 76.86%), among the top-performing SHJ devices with non-metallic electrodes to date. Additionally, the stability and cost-effectiveness of these solar cells are discussed.

Prognostic significance of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 expression in glioma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system neoplasm. Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas, patient prognosis remains dismal. Therefore, it is imperative to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of glioma to effectively improve treatment outcomes. AIM: To investigate the association between oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2) expression and the outcomes of glioma patients. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched for studies (published up to October 2023) that investigated the relationship between Olig2 expression and prognosis of glioma patients. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Data analyses were performed using Stata Version 12.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 1205 glioma patients from six studies were included in the meta-analysis. High Olig2 expression was associated with better outcomes in glioma patients [hazard ratio (HR): 0.81; 95% (confidence interval) CI: 0.51-1.27; P = 0.000]. Furthermore, the results of subgroup meta-analysis showed that high expression of Olig2 was associated with poor overall survival in European patients (HR: 1.34; 95%CI: 0.79-2.27) and better prognosis in Asian patients (HR: 0.43; 95%CI: 0.22-0.84). The sensitivity analysis showed that no single study had a significant effect on pooled HR, and there was also no indication of publication bias according to the Egger's and Begger's P value test or funnel plot test. CONCLUSION: High Olig2 expression may have a positive impact on the prognosis of glioma patients, and should be investigated further as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for glioma.

Clinical Characteristics, Serotypes and Antimicrobial Resistance of Invasive Salmonella Infections in HIV-Infected Patients in Hangzhou, China, 2012-2023.

Purpose: Developing countries, invasive Salmonella infections can cause considerable morbidity and mortality. There is a relative lack of data on coinfection with Salmonella in HIV-infected patients in Hangzhou, China. Patients and Methods: In this study, we manually collected case data of patients aged >18 years with HIV combined with invasive Salmonella infections admitted to Xixi Hospital in Hangzhou from January 2012 to August 2023 by logging into the Hospital Information System, and identified 26 strains of invasive Salmonella using a fully automated microbiological identification system and mass spectrometer. Serotypes were determined using Salmonella diagnostic sera based on the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme. Drug sensitivity tests were performed using the automated instrumental method of the MIC method. Results: A total of 26 HIV-infected patients with invasive Salmonella coinfections were identified over 11 years; Twenty-five of the 26 patients (96.2%) were males, with a mean age of 33.5 years (26.75, 46.75). The most common type of infection was bloodstream infection (92.3%). One patient also had concomitant meningitis and osteoarthritis, followed by pneumonia (7.7%). The presence of multiple bacterial infections or even multiple opportunistic pathogens was clearly established in 7 (26.9%) patients. Three (11.6%) patients were automatically discharged from the hospital with deterioration of their condition, and one (3.8%) patient died. Salmonella enteritidis was the most common serotype in 6 patients (23.2%), and Salmonella Dublin was the most common serotype in 6 patients (23.2%). Drug sensitivity results revealed multidrug resistance in a total of 8 (30.8%) patients. Conclusion: The clinical presentation of invasive Salmonella infection in HIV patients is nonspecific and easily masked by other mixed infections. A CD4+ count <100 cells/µL and comorbid intestinal lesions may be important susceptibility factors. Salmonella has a high rate of resistance to common antibiotics, and the risk of multidrug resistance should not be ignored.

Inheritance of chlorantraniliprole resistance and fitness costs in a field population of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in China.

BACKGROUND: Cnaphalocrocis medinalis is one of the major rice insect pests in Asia. Chlorantraniliprole is one of the most important insecticides for the control of C. medinalis. In this study, a field-resistant population and a susceptible strain of C. medinalis were used to evaluate the inheritance of chlorantraniliprole resistance and fitness costs in the field. RESULTS: The field-resistant population (Cm-RR) showed 128.4-fold resistance to chlorantraniliprole compared with the susceptible strain (Cm-SS). The dose-response of reciprocal cross progeny (F1 and F1') showed no significant difference, which indicated the inheritance of resistance to chlorantraniliprole in C. medinalis was autosomal. The degrees of dominance (D) of resistance for F1 and F1' were -0.19 and -0.05, respectively, indicating that the chlorantraniliprole resistance of C. medinalis was incompletely recessive inheritance. At the same time, significant differences between observed and expected mortalities of self-cross (F2 and F2') and backcross (BC and BC') progenies suggested chlorantraniliprole resistance is controlled by multiple genes. Furthermore, the Cm-RR population had a relative fitness of 0.32 with a substantially decreased pupation rate, emergence rate, fecundity, and substantially increased developmental time of larval and pupa stages. CONCLUSION: Current research showed that the inheritance of chlorantraniliprole resistance to C. medinalis was autosomal, incompletely recessive and multigene. The field-resistant population had a relative fitness of 0.32 when compared with the susceptible strain. This study provided valuable information for facilitating the development of chlorantraniliprole resistance management strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Trends in Vaccination Coverage among Children Aged 2-6 Years in Tennessee Counties, 2017-2023.

Background/Objectives: This study examines trends in county-level vaccination coverage before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic among children aged 2-3 and 4-6 years in Tennessee, with a focus on rurality; Methods: Data from the Tennessee Immunization Information System (January 2017 to September 2023) were analyzed for vaccination coverage in children in both age groups. The study categorized the COVID-19 pandemic into three periods: pre-pandemic (P1: January 2017 to December 2019), stay-at-home (P2: January 2020 to May 2021), and reopening (P3: June 2021 to September 2023). Vaccination trends were stratified by vaccine type, rurality, sex, race and ethnicity; Results: During P1, there were no significant changes in trends of vaccination coverage percentages in both rural and urban counties for both age groups. However, vaccination coverage declined significantly during P2 and P3 compared to P1 for most vaccines, except for influenza, which initially increased but later declined. Rural counties experienced a more pronounced decline compared to urban counties during P2 and P3 for both age groups. Within rural and urban counties, vaccination coverage was higher among white children compared to black children, and among non-Hispanic compared to Hispanic children. There were higher coverage percentages in age group 4-6 for all vaccines, except for influenza, compared to 2-3 year group; Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated disparities in childhood vaccination coverage, particularly in rural areas. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to address barriers to vaccination and ensure equitable access to vaccines for all children.

Research on the impact of digital inclusive finance on the performance of rural returnee entrepreneurs in China.

Using data from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), this paper explores the impact of digital inclusive finance on the entrepreneurial performance of returning rural migrants. The study first finds that digital inclusive finance can enhance the entrepreneurial performance of returning rural migrants. Second, it significantly improves entrepreneurial performance in three dimensions: the degree of digitization in inclusive finance, the depth of digital financial usage, and the breadth of digital financial coverage. Third, farmers' digital participation, digital usage, and the extent of digital usage are crucial pathways through which digital inclusive finance influences their entrepreneurial performance. Fourth, the impact of digital inclusive finance on entrepreneurial performance varies according to different types of migration, duration of migration, scale of entrepreneurship, educational attainment, and credit access channels. The findings of this study help validate the real effects of digital inclusive finance on entrepreneurial outcomes in rural populations.